Hello--I have a 1993 Toyota Camry 2.2L/4cyl, just hit 160,000 miles, bought it earlier this summer. So far I've had the timing belt replaced, water pump, most of the belts, motor mount, all the oil changes, and got a brand new starter last month.

For the past week or two whenever it rains the car has had problems starting. It would try to--(it sounded like it was starting slowly) it would slowly catch after trying a few times and then I could drive it. After I drove it for awhile and the sun came out it would start up perfectly fine with no problems--so I connected this with a moisture problem.

Then this Friday it rained a lot and the car was outside (no garage parking here at college). Saturday morning I got in the car to go to work and it would not start. It would try to--the window shield wipers were going very slow and the lights were dim--and it was trying to catch but just wouldn't. After several attempts the car wouldn't even make the noise it was making--now it just makes an initial click when I first try, and then a short burst of little clicks and then nothing. The lights were brighter at first but now we can't even see the dash clock. The car still makes a dinging noise one time when the door is ajar and the key is in the ignition. We tried jumping it with my friend's car, but my Camry still just makes that clicking noise and will not start.

My mechanic that I always use from home is about 300 miles away, and since the car won't start--it's been about 3 days now--I can't drive it to a mechanic here.

The battery connnectors/cables look good to me, from what I've been reading I'm thinking distributor cap/faulty wiring/ignition coil?

If it doesn't start soon I'll have to use my Roadside Assistance from my insurance and get it towed somewhere. I'm willing to do that, but does any one have any ideas or suggestions before I take the next step?

You have 2 different problems here. First, you have a battery issue that needs to be addressed first. Get a good, strong battery in there and see if you still have the wet starting problem.

Your on the right track for that issue. Anything is the secondary ignition can cause that. That includes tghe plugs, cap, rotor, wires and coil. The coil would have to be cracked but that's pretty common and hard to see. start out with cap, rotor, wires and plugs. If that doesn't solve your problems, then look at the coil.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.

So I got the new battery today--cleaned the connectors--put it in, and then started the car. It started right up--and then died a second later.

When I turn the key I can hear the engine trying very hard to turn over, but it's just not getting there. It hasn't started since and I'm hesitate to just sit there and try repeatedly for fear of damaging something.

I popped the hood and had someone try to start it--I can see the Drive/Serpentine belt (which I had replaced less than a month ago incidentally) turning, but the engine is not starting.

Any suggestions from this point? Should I stick with the idea of it being something electrical?

Common failure on older Toyota Camry and Corolla distributer cap fails. 1st ck for spark at plugs, if none you have a choice take to a good shop to diagnose or replace distributer cap and recheck. The coil is an integral coil and can not be tested by a DIY. The coil and distributor failed often on these cars. They are not cheap and need to be correctly diagnosed so the wrong part is not replaced. A good honest shop can test for the difference. Measure resistance of coil inside distributer and compare to factory spec. link deleted...................not allowed